Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputies seek two men sought in identity theft ring

SANTA CRUZ -- A man who bailed out of Santa Cruz County Jail this week has been linked to an identity theft ring and the burglary of an 82-year-old woman's home in Aptos.

Jesse Angel Jurado, 32, was arrested Monday night after an officer found about 7 pounds of marijuana, stolen credit cards and electronics in a stolen Honda Civic he was driving outside Watsonville, deputies said.

He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail Monday night and later posted $25,000 bail, according to records.

This week, authorities linked a credit card in the Honda to an Aptos woman whose home had been burglarized in November. One of her cards also was used at a bank ATM in Capitola on Dec. 24, said Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputy April Skalland.

Friday, deputies released a surveillance video and a picture of Jurado at the ATM to try to hasten his arrest. Jurado is now wanted on suspicion of felony identity theft.

Another man who was arrested with Jurado, 33-year-old Hernan Perez Coto, is wanted on suspicion of a probation violation for carrying a gun, authorities said.

"We just hope to arrest them and we want to get it out to the public," Skalland said. "Coto is known to carry firearms, so he should be considered armed and dangerous."

Coto was arrested Monday on suspicion of felony vehicle theft and possession of stolen property, according to the California Highway Patrol. He posted $10,000 bail this week.

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Also this week, some stolen credit cards and cellphones that Jurado allegedly stole from Santa Cruz County victims were found in Fresno, Fresno police said.

Jurado and Coto split their time between Fresno and Watsonville. They have lengthy criminal histories, deputies said.

Jurado is 5 feet 10 inches tall and 255 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He told authorities he worked in the auto body business.

Coto is 5 feet 7 inches and 120 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He said he was a tattoo artist, according to jail records.

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office asks anyone with information to call the investigations division at 831-454-2311 or the anonymous tipline at 831-454-5995.